Name and drop-letter plate



(No Model.) i

W. E. SPARKS.

NAME ANDD-ROP LETTER PLATE. No. 339,819. Patented Apr. 13, 1886.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\NILLIAM E. SPARKS, OF NEV HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE NASHUA LOCK COMPANY, OF NASHUA, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

NAME AND DROP-LETTER PLATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 339,819, dated April 13, 1886. Application filed SeptemherSO, 1884. Serial No. 144,340. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM E. SPARKS, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Name and Drop-Letter Plates, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in drop-letter plates of the class having a stationary back plate and connected thereto by a movable lid or cover.

In the accompanying sheet of drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved name and drop-letter plate. Fig. 2 is a like view thereof with the letter-mortise uncovcred. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the same.

My improved name and drop letter plate consists, essentially, of two pa.rtsa back plate, A, and a cover-plate, B. The back plate, A, is provided with an opening or letter-mortise, a, for the insertion ofletters, papers, &c., which extend near to the lower right-hand corner thereof, a curved opening, 1), near its right-hand edge, and at the lefthand side of the plate a, near its edge, a circular perforation, 6. On the face of the coverplate B any desired name is engraved or otherwise placed thereonas, for instance, the name of the person occupying the place where the plate is to be used. On the rear of the coverplate there is a projection, c, and a pivotal lug or pin, d, of sufficient length to extend through the openings 1) and e in the back plate. Pins ff in the projection c and pivotal pin d at the rear of the back plate hold the parts A and B together. W'hen the back and cover plates are thus secured together, the cover-plate will turn edgewise on its axis, formed by the pin 11 and the perforation 6, so that one end of said cover-plate may be lifted until its upward movement is limited by means of the projection e reaching the upper end of the curved opening I), as shown in Fig. 2, and thereby uncover the letter-mortise a. WVhen the cover-plate is released, it will of its own weight fall to its former position, as

shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the downward movement of the cover being limited by the projection 0 reaching the lower end of the curved opening I).

The screw-holes g g are for the reception of fastening-screws to secure the device upon a door or other place where it is to be used.

I am aware that a prior patent shows a letter-box having a covering-plate pivoted so as to swing edgewise instead of sidewise, the back plate of which has a horizontal shoulder against which the lower edge of the coveringplate rests when it covers the letter-mortise. 6

The cover-plate of this prior device is fastened to the back plate only at one end, and that by means of its axle. Such a device is hereby disclaimed.

By my improved construction the cover- 6 plate is so fastened at both ends as to always be held closely to the back plate, while the stop is concealed from view, thereby enabling the covering-plate to occupy a central position on the back plate, as shown in Fig. 1,

and produce a neat finish having the appearance of an ordinary door-plate.

I claim as my invention-- 1. The herein described drop-letter plate,

consisting of the back plate having a lettermortise and the curved opening I), and the cover-plate pivoted thereto near one end, so as to turn edgewise, and having the projection 0, working. in the curved opening I), to serve as a stop, all substantially as described, and 8 for the purpose specified.

2. The herein-described drop-letter plate, consisting of the back plate having a lettermortise, and the coverplate pivoted near one end to said back plate, so as to swing edge- 

